Keys for musical wind instruments



April 2, 1968 P. s. PROLL KEYS FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed June 1, 1965 FIG.9

INVENTC DR PETER S, PROLL United States Patent 3,375,746 KEYS FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Peter S. Proll, Newark, N.J., assignor to Proll Products Co., Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,029

13 Claims. (Cl. 84-380) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Improved keys for musical instruments, especially toy musical instruments such as clarinets are described, which comprise in addition to the usual finger pad and tone portclosing members, one or two resilient tongue members; all of these parts being combined in a unitary key member capable of being molded from plastic in one piece. Cooperating mounting structure on the body of a toy musical instrument is also described whereby the new keys may be easily and quickly assembled with the body in such a way that the integral resilient tongue members serve the dual function of facilitating operation of the key and retaining the key in the mounting structure.

The present invention has to do with keys for musical instruments, especially for toy musical instruments in the nature of clarinets, Saxophones, and numerous other types.

Such keys generally comprise a finger pad portion and another portion adapted to open and close an opening or port in the body of the instrument when the key is rocked about a central transverse pivot axis. A spring biasses the key normally to port-closing portion.

At present, a conventional way of providing the aforedescribed structure is as follows. The apex portion of a separate V-shaped leaf spring is placed in a recess provided on the underside of the middle of each key. This sub-assembly is pressed against the body of instrument and a long rod is then threaded through aligned holes in the keys to provide their pivot axis. The rod, also passes through lugs on the instrument body and thus holds the keys in place on the instrument.

This presently used technique is quite expensive. The various parts involved must be manufactured separately, and a considerable amount of labor time is needed to perform the assembly operation.

The present invention avoids the above disadvantages by considerably reducing the number of parts which must be made separately and by significantly simplifying the assembly operation. Each key is desirably molded with integral pivot pins and essentially with integral return spring means in the form of one or more depending tongues. The body of the instrument is molded with mounting structure for the keys in the form of vertical blind slots for receiving the pivot pins. The slots are open laterally, i.e., to the side. Each key is assembled to the instrument body merely by pressing the key against the body to flex the spring tongue, and then inserting the pivot pins through the lateral slot openings. The spring tongues push the pivot pins upwardly against the base of the slots. The spring tongues perform two functions. They hold the keys upwardly in the mounting slots, i.e., on the instrument, and also return the keys to normal position after they have been operated.

It is a general object of the present invention to substantially reduce the cost of manufacturing and assembling toy musical instruments.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide a novel and inexpensive unitary key structure for musical instruments.

It is a further object to provide a novel and inexpensive means for mounting a key on a musical instrument.

3,3 75,746 Patented Apr. 2 1968 It is a further object to provide a unitary key structure for a musical instrument which includes a return spring means as a part thereof.

It is a further object to provide a key for a musical instrument having a return spring which also serves to hold the key mounted on the instrument.

The above and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an instrument, e.g., a toy clarinet, in which the invention can be incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 2.

k FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational detail of the FIG. 6 is a side elevational detail view of a portion of the key-mounting structure, taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detail front elevational view of a second form of key having'two spring tongues.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the key of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the key of FIGS. 7 and 8 mounted on the instrument.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an integral single-shot molding of a number of keys, which can be used in assembling the keys to the body of the instrument.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates generally a toy musical instrument in which the invention may be embodied. A toy clarinet is shown for illustrative purposes, but the invention can be applied to any desired instrument.

The body 2 of instrument 1 is substantially a thinwalled cylinder molded as two separate arcuate shells 3, 4 secured together as by gluing. It will be understood that the internal structural details of the instrument body 2 are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention.

A left and right series of tone ports or openings 5 are provided respectively in portions 3 and 4 of the instrument body 2. Keys 6 are manipulated to control the opening and closing of ports 5 to produce different notes when the instrument is played.

Each unitary key structure 6 comprises a central portion 7 from which extend two downwardly sloping diverging arms 8, 9 respectively terminating in a valve member 11 adapted to seal off a port 5, and a recessed finger pad portion 12 adapted to be engaged by the finger of the player to operate the key. Oppositely directed pivot pins 13, 14 integral with the key extend transversely from central portion 7. A thin, transversely resilient tongue 15 depends integrally from the underside of central portion 7. The entire aforedescribed integral key structure can readily be formed at low cost in one operation by conventional plastic molding methods from any suitable synthetic material, for example, polyethylene, styrene, polypropylene, and so forth.

Each key 6 is mounted on the instrument body by structure to be described shortly. The normal position of each key is as shown in FIG. 3. Tongue 15 flexed against body 2 normally holds the keys port-control member 11 against port 5. When the key is operated by pressing down on finger-pad portion 12, it is rocked on its pivot pins 13, 14 to open the port. This operating rocking movement of the key increases the loading on resilient ongue 15 by downwardly bowing it, and the tongue will subsequently restore the key to normal position upon release thereof.

Resilient tongues 15 also aid in mounting the key on i the instrument.

The mounting structure will now be described. It includes a series of integral upstanding projections 16 disposed between each adjacent pair of ports 5, on the body portions (3 or 4) containing the ports. Each projection 16 includes an uppermost inwardly extending horizontal ledge 17, two vertical spaced inwardly extending ribs 18, and a narrow horizontal rib 19 spaced below ledge 17.

Along the upper edge of the other body half (3 or 4, as the case may be), opposite each projection 16 there is provided a confronting integral flat I-shaped lug 21 abutting ledge 17. The spaced abutting, cooperating pairs of projections 16 and I-lugs 21 provide downwardly directed mounting slots 22 (see particularly FIG. 4) for receiving the keys pivot pins 13, 14. The ledge 17 forms the upper end of the slot, the opposed vertical faces of projections 16 and lugs 21 are the side walls of the slots and the horizontal outwardly opening notches 23 of each I-lug provide lateral, horizontal access to the mounting slots.

To assemble a key 6 to the instrument body 2, all that need be done is press the key against the body to flex its spring tongue 15, horizontally align its pivot pins 13, 14

with the central facing notches 23 of an adjacent pair of I-lugs 21, and push the pins inwardly through notches 23 until they are in vertical alignment with the vertical mounting slots 22. The key is then moved upwardly, aided by the upward bias of resilient spring tongue 15 to snap the pivot pins past narrow ribs 19 into engagement with the under face of ledge 17. The key is thus now assembled to the instrument body. Any tendency of the pivot pins 13, 14 to drop out of mounted position in slot 22 is resisted by the upward bias of tongue 15. Further, ribs 19 act as stop means to hold and lock the pivot pins in slots 22, the pivot pins being slightly wider than the distance between the ribs and the opposed, inner faces of lugs 21. Note FIG. 4. The pivot pins are journalled or rotatably supported in the above described mounting structure of the instrument. Being integral with the key, the pins thus serve as means whereby the key is rockably supported.

As described earlier, when the instrument is played, the resilient tongues 15 will also function to normalize the keys after they are operated, i.e., rocking them back to home position after they have been operated.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show a second form of the invention. Here, in addition to the aforedescribed resilient tongue 15, the key is provided with a shorter second integral resilient tongue 25. The two depending parallel tongues are spaced from each other on opposite sides of pivot pins 13, 14. The key of FIGS. 7-9 is mounted on the instrument body in exactly the same way as the key of FIGS. 16. The second tongue 25 functions like, and in addition to, tongue 15, to push the entire key upwardly to hold it mounted on the instrument and also to normalize the key after operation thereof. However, the second tongue 25 is flexed and bowed against the first tongue 15 rather than directly against the instrument body.

FIG. 10 shows an arrangement in which a number of the keys, four for example are fabricated, i.e., molded, integral with a connecting bar or strip 30' which supports the keys. As shown, strips 30 join the lower free ends of the longer tongues 15 of the two tongue form of FIGS. 79. The unit of FIG. 10 can be used to considerably lessen the assembly time required to mount the keys on the instrument body. The four-key unit of FIG. 10 is placed against the instrument bodys mounting structure with the pivot pins 13, 14 of the key properly aligned with the mounting slots 22. The pins are then mounted by being pressed into the slots as described before. Then, the excess portions f strip 30 between adjacent keys is removed. It will be understood that the connecting strip arrangement of FIG. can also be used with the single tongue key of FIG. 5.

Itwill be understood the invention and its various.

. '4 I r features can be practiced with numerous changes in form, proportion, size, and other details, without departing from its principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments of the invention be illustrative only, and not in any way limitative of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a musical instrument comprising a hollow body having at least one tone port therein; at least one key having a finger portion, a tone port-closing portion and an intermediate portion; and means connected to said instrument for mounting said key in operative position for rocking movement with respect to the body thereof to control the opening and closing of said tone port; the improvement which comprises: in combination, resilient tongue means extending from the intermediate portion of said key; said resilient tongue means being flexed and tensioned by contact with the body of said instrument to bias said key away from said body when said key is mounted in operable position thereon; said means for mounting said key being adapted to engage said key and exert a restraining force opposing the biasing force of said tensioned resilient tongue means, whereby said resilient tongue means aids in holding the key in operative position with respect to the body of said instrument, and restores the key to normal tone-port closing position after operation thereof; said finger pad portion, tone port-closing portion, intermediate body portion and resilient tongue means of said key comprising a unitary structure.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said resilient tongue means comprises first and second elongated resilient tongue members, one end of each of said first and second resilient tongue members being integral wit-h the intermediate portion of said key, the other end of said first resilient tongue member resiliently engaging the body of said instrument to flex and tension said tongue member, the other end of said second resilient tongue member resiliently engaging and being flexed and tensioned against said first resilient tongue member.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting said key comprises, spaced upstanding means disposed longitudinally of the body of said instrument and having axially aligned openings therein; and pivot means disposed between said upstanding means and mounted in said openings, the pivotal axis of said pivot means being coincident with theaxis of said axially aligned openings; said key being mounted for rocking movement about said pivotal axis for controlling the opening and closing of said tone port.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the pivot means comprises pivot pins extending from opposite sides of the intermediate portion of said key; said pivot pins forming part of the unitary key structure.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the hollow body of said instrument comprises first and second concavo-convex, longitudinally elongated shell members, each shell member having an upper edge and a lower edge, said shell members being joined together upper edge to upper edge, and lower edge to lower edge, with their respective concave surfaces face to face and with the joined edges of said shell members meeting-in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said hollow body; said first shell member having at least two longitudinally spaced upstanding members disposed along and adjacent to the upper edge of said member and having horizontal notches extending into' the opposite upstanding edges thereof, said notches being generally parallel to the axis of said body; the second shell member having at least two longitudinally spaced upstanding members disposed along and adjacent to the upper edge thereof and in register with the upstanding members on said first shell member, said upstanding members on said second shell memberhaving upper ledges projecting therefrom into contact with the adjacent face of an upstanding member on said first shell member, and a second ledge projecting from an inter mediate position on each of said upstanding members between the upper ledge and the hollow body to form and partially close a mounting slot between the opposed upstanding members of the two adjacent shell members; and wherein the unitary key structure includes pivot pins extending from opposite sides of the intermediate portion thereof; said key being mounted in operative position with said pivot pins disposed in the mounting slots of mounting means disposed on opposite side of the intermediate portion thereof; said pivot pins being retained in said mounting slots by the biasing force of said resilient tongue means and restraining force of said upper ledges, whereby the unitary key structure is retained in the mounting means without resort to separate locking means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said resilient tongue means comprises first and second elongated resilient tongue members, one end of each of said first and second resilient tongue members being integral with the intermediate portion of said key, the other end of said first resilient tongue member resiliently engaging the body of said instrument to flex and tension said tongue member, the other end of said second resilient tongue member resiliently engaging and being flexed and tensioned against said first resilient tongue member.

7. In a key for a musical instrument having a finger pad portion and a tone port-closing portion connected by an intermediate body portion, the improvement which comprises, resilient tongue means extending from said intermediate body portion for restoring said key to tone port-closing position after operation thereof, said finger pad portion, tone port-closing portion, intermediate body portion and resilient tongue means comprising a unitary structure.

8. A key for a musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the unitary structure comprises means for mounting said key on a musical instrument.

9. A key for a musical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the means for mounting said key on a musical instrument comprises a pair of pivot pins forming part of the unitary structure and projecting laterally from, and normal to, opposite sides of said intermediate body portion.

10. A key for a musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein said resilient tongue means comprises a pair of said resilient tongues.

11. A key for a musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein said resilient tongues are spaced apart and are of unequal length.

12. A unitary assembly unit comprising a plurality of keys according to claim 11 and means interconnecting said keys.

13. A unitary assembly unit according to claim 12, wherein the interconnecting means joins the ends of the longer of the two resilient tongues of each key remote from the intermediate portion thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,821 2/1916 Weakley 84-380 1,336,359 4/1920 Loomis 84-380 2,205,695 6/1940 OBrien 84382 2,394,143 2/1946 Brockman 8438O 3,308,707 3/1967 Kelischek 84-330 X RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner. 

